Perception survey: Outdoor air pollution and its impact on our health

The latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report, a global initiative involving a network of international health bodies and the World Health Organisation has shown outdoor air pollution as one of the top 10 killers in the world. In South Asia, it is ranked as the sixth most dangerous killer, now three places behind indoor air pollution, which is the second highest killer in the region. The GBD tracks deaths and illnesses from all causes across the world. As two-thirds of the death burden from outdoor air pollution occurs in developing Asia including India, it is important to understand the health implications from this risk factor, which is scary as it makes everyone, rich and poor vulnerable. India cannot afford to enhance health risk at a time when much of its economic growth and motorization are yet to happen.

Delhi as a city has its own story to tell. It is ranked as one of the most polluted cities in India and Asia. It implemented many measures including the largest natural gas vehicle programme, relocation of polluting industries, converting two out of three power plants to natural gas, improved emissions standards, put a ban on open burning etc. But the problem has not gone away. Air pollution remains a major health risk factor. In view of this Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is carrying out a perception survey of citizens of Delhi to know and understand their perception of the problem of air pollution and health impact. A number of health conditions are associated with air pollution today including cancer, respiratory and cardiac conditions, eye conditions, hyper tension, diabetes, vitamin absorption, etc. But for the purpose of this survey we are focusing only on the respiratory conditions – one of the most dominant impacts of air pollution – that people can easily track and understand. Please take out time to answer the following questions.

Name:

Age group:

upto 10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50

50-60

60+ years

Address:

Mobile:

Email:

How long you have been living in Delhi? :

Less than 1 year

1 – 5 years

5 – 15 years

15 – 30 years

More than 30 years

How many adults and children are there in your family?

Adult:

Children:

How many adults in your family (including you) are smokers/non-smokers?

Smokers:

Occasionally smoke:

Non-smokers:

Do you live within 500 m from a major road?:

Within 500 m from the road

Beyond 500 m from the road?

1. What is your perception of outdoor air quality in Delhi?:

Air pollution is worsening

Air quality has improved

There is no change, air remains polluted as before

2. What do you think is the dominant source of air pollution? Please rank the sources on a scale of 1 to 6 (1 being the dominant source and 6 the least)

Increasing number of vehicles (Note: There are close to 7 million registered vehicles and adding 1,400 vehicles a day):

Increased use of diesel vehicles (Note: Diesel cars are 60 per cent of all car sales and large number of diesel trucks enter Delhi on a daily basis):

Industrial units (Note: Major air polluting units have been relocated outside Delhi):

Three power plants (Note: two on natural gas and one on coal):

Diesel generator sets:

Open burning:

3. Which air polluting source is close to your breathing zone (close to your residence, office, and enroute to office)? Please rank the sources on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the dominant source and 5 the least)

Vehicles:

Industrial units:

Power plants:

Diesel generator sets:

Open burning:

4. Which season is worst in terms of high air pollution in the city?:

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

5. Do you consider yourself healthy at present?:

Yes

No

Easily prone to respiratory ailments

Can't say

6. How do you travel every day?:

Two-wheeler

Car

Auto

Bus

Metro

Combination

Occasionally travel

7. On an average how many hours do you spend outside home on a daily basis?:

8. Are you aware of the temporary severe smog episodes during winter – like the one that enveloped Delhi in late October-early November, 2012? Do you face special discomforts during severe smog episodes?:

9. Did you/adult family member/children in your family have any of the following symptoms during the past 2 months

Cough

You:

Yes

No

Adult family member:

Yes

No

Children:

Yes

No

Phlegm production

You:

Yes

No

Adult family member:

Yes

No

Children:

Yes

No

Breathing difficulty

You:

Yes

No

Adult family member:

Yes

No

Children:

Yes

No

Wheezing

You:

Yes

No

Adult family member:

Yes

No

Children:

Yes

No

Running nose or congested nose

You:

Yes

No

Adult family member:

Yes

No

Children:

Yes

No

Sneezing bouts

You:

Yes

No

Adult family member:

Yes

No

Children:

Yes

No

Throat irritation

You:

Yes

No

Adult family member:

Yes

No

Children:

Yes

No

Fever

You:

Yes

No

Adult family member:

Yes

No

Children:

Yes

No

Any other complaint related to health

You:

Adult family member:

Children:

10. Is frequency of respiratory conditions increasing in your family?:

Yes

No

Are children and elderly more prone?

Is this increasing children’s absenteeism from school?

Don't know

Can't say

YES: Usually how many times during a year - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6:

Or long duration:

Is this increasing children’s absenteeism from school?:

Yes

No

11. If yes, what kind of precautions do you or your family members (including children and if any member is asthmatic) take to reduce its impact during high air pollution days?:

12. Has your doctor ever inferred that the ailment was being aggravated by air pollution?:

Yes

No

Don't know

13. Do you think air pollution aggravates respiratory ailments?:

Yes

No

Don't know

Can't say

14. Were you already aware of the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study (released last month) which showed that outdoor air pollution is amongst the top 10 killers in the world and in India? :

Yes

No

Don't know

15. Do you know that last year the World Health Organisation and International Agency on Cancer Research have reclassified diesel emissions as class 1 carcinogen, putting it in the same class as tobacco smoking for its strong link with lung cancer?:

Yes

Don't know

16. Do you think the current policies are adequate to control air pollution?:

Yes

No

Don't know

17. What policies should be implemented to reduce the toxic air pollution especially vehicular pollution in our cities? Give your suggestions?: